Search - Prokofiev, Thomas, San Francisco Symphony :: Romeo & Juliet

Spectacular in Every Way

C. Noble | Portland, OR USA | 01/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This relatively new release from BMG/RCA is a CD that you simply MUST buy. Run, don't walk, to the order button here at Amazon.com and buy this one! The packaging is bit over the top, I'll grant you that, but this is one serious release of one of Prokofiev's most beloved scores. Instead of playing an amalgomation of one or both of the suites which Prokofiev extracted from the complete score, MTT has created his own 'suite' from scratch. Many scenes from the ballet which are not included in the two original suites are heard here - and to great effect - one more reason to buy. The recorded sound is nothing less than spectacular. There is amazing detail and sonic placement on the aural soundstage. Last, and certainly not least, is the beyond world-class playing of the San Francisco Symphony and the superb musical leadership of Michael Tilson Thomas. This orchestra (in case you haven't heard them lately) is the envy of any city in the world (yes even Berlin and Vienna, in certain repertoire). The brass are bold and incisive, with an especially powerful (yet tasteful) low brass section. The strings are incandescent in the Death of Juliet, and swashbuckling and fleet in the Death of Tybalt. This all adds up to a recording which can't be missed, and shouldn't be passed up."

Reissue of a much-praised MTT debut

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 06/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At 78 min., this is much more generous than other collections that pair Prokofiev's two Suites from Romeo and Juliet. The angry reviewer below is mistaken to accuse Tilson Thomas of composing any transitions of his own devising--he only placed portions of the ballet in dramatic sequence (Prokofiev's suites are in no particular order). This was MTT's first recording with RCA as music director in San Francisco, and when it was released in 1996, the U.S. reviews were rapturous.



Not so the British. The Gramophone grumbled about 'slick efficiency' and 'stickiness.' I think that's not true. The only problems that keep this recording from the highest rank, as far as my ears tell me, are first, the recorded sound. Though wide-ranging and dynamic, the original release tended to be coarse and thuddy (I don't own the reissue at mid-price, but perhaps something has been done to correct this).



The second and more important reservation isn't MTT's fault. Great conductors have already preceded him. Ancerl, Mravinsky, and Mitropoulos are among the old maestros who made outstanding versions of excerpts from the ballet. Among moderns we have had sonic blockbusters from Salonen and Abbado, both of whom dig into the score as MTT does not, and both of whom benefit from the astounding viruosity of the Berlin Phil. As for the complete ballet, versions by Lorin Maazel with the Cleveland Orch. on Decca and Gergiev with the Kirov Orch. on Philips stand out. MTT has a lighter touch than all of the above, which isn't necessarily a bad thing--his avoidance of shmaltz is admirable to me.



In fact, there are stretches here that sound just as good as the best. I can see why other listeners give this recording five stars; in light of so many great ones, I settled for four."

My very favorite classical CD

SP | denton, TX USA | 08/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was so thrilled to find a more complete recording of Romeo & Juliet; I wanted more than the usual Suite. The selections are perfect -- comprehensive & varied. Young Juliet, Young Romeo, and Nurse are real Prokofiev treats, and the Danse with Mandolins is just wonderful. Interpretation is flawless. The sweeping waves of the final love scene move me every time -- thank you gorgeous trombones! Thank you Mr. Thomas!"